HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner and starter at Buchholz High School for head coach Bob Smith, his father…Earned first-team all-state honors and was The Gainesville Sun Player of the Year as a senior, when he batted .456 and boasted a slugging percentage of .881…Recognized as The Gainesville Sun's 2004 Scholar/Athlete of the Year…Hitting out of the leadoff spot, Smith scored 34 runs and was 14-for-14 on stolen base opportunities…Also totaled 14 runs batted in and belted five homers…Finished as BHS' all-time leader in hits (129) and helped the Bobcats achieve a top-10 ranking each season…Collected the Baseball Top Scholar Award four times and received a football scholar-athlete award as well…Was a third-team all-state selection in Class 6A and collected all-conference accolades during his junior campaign…Garnered second-team all-state kudos on the diamond as a sophomore…A three-year starter at wide receiver for Buchholz's football team, Smith was a three-time all-state pick…Over his career, he had 105 receptions for 1,905 yards and scored 24 touchdowns…Also lettered once in basketball…Member of the student council.

SUMMER: Joined Gator teammates Bryson Barber and David Hurst on the Rochester (Minn.) Honkers of the Northwoods League last summer…Played in nine games and scored two runs but did not record a hit.